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Social Justice: Sustainable Activism and Preventing Vicarious Trauma
In a world where hashtags fuel movements and social platforms serve as soapboxes, activism has evolved. From the radical to the domestic, engaging in causes we are passionate about is empowering. But it can come with a hidden cost: vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue. Let's explore impactful ways to make a difference while safeguarding your mental health.
Reversing The Course For Burnt Out Lawyers
Our careers are supposed to be a marathon, not a sprint. But unfortunately, most law firms have a culture of a marathon run at a sprint pace. This is not sustainable and usually leads to burnout. It can be too difficult to prioritize self-care when something always seems to be on fire. It makes sense that many lawyers are burnt out.
15 Things You Should Never Say to Someone With Anxiety
Dealing with anxiety can be tough, not only for the person going through it but also for those around them. Sometimes, even with the best intentions, we might say things that unintentionally make anxiety worse. Here are ten things you should avoid saying to someone with anxiety and what to say instead.
Moving Beyond Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: The Four Layers of Emotional Healing
The research is clear: cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) works to treat many mental health conditions. And we love CBT! It comes in real handy, and we use it all the time. But it's not a complete model of care, and it can't treat everything. So what do therapists do when CBT helps, but doesn't quite heal?
14 Things to Say (or Not Say) When Someone Experiences Loss
It can be challenging to know what to say to someone who has experienced loss. It’s tempting to want to fix their pain. Here are 14 therapist-approved things to say to help someone you care about deal with loss.
13 Ways To Support Your Anxious Partner
It's hard when your partner is going through something you can't fix. Anxiety can be a challenging experience, not just for the person going through it but also for their partner. If your loved one is dealing with anxiety, it's hard to know where to start. Here are 13 practical strategies for being there for your partner.
Therapeutic Book Review: How Healing Works by Wayne Jonas, MD
How Healing Works How Healing Works is a research-backed book about what many people already know: medicine alone will not heal us. The content is disruptive while also being hopeful and empowering. To be clear, Jonas is exploring how people can pursue healing in addition to working with Western medicine. The author's focus on integrative care wins readers over without slandering allopathic medicine.
Improving Lesbian Mental Health: Overcoming Cultural Challenges
Taking care of your mental health is a deeply personal journey, and for lesbian women, this path can be particularly challenging. Navigating through mental health difficulties such as internalized homophobia, misogyny, discrimination, and violence, lesbians face higher rates of depression, anxiety, and social stress. Despite these challenges, there is hope and support available to build resilience and foster better mental well-being.
Can Burnout Make You Sick? A Therapist Explains
Burnout is more than feeling stressed. It's a state of physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion from prolonged and unrelenting stress. While it can take a toll on your overall well-being, you might wonder, "Can burnout make you sick?"
7 Boundaries You Can Set With Your Phone to Lower Anxiety
Most of us have complicated relationships with our phones. We can't live without them, nor would we want to. Overall, they're a net positive. But they also control a lot of our time and attention and raise our anxiety. Poor boundaries with our phones leads to stress, anxiety, and strained relationships. If you find yourself constantly glued to your phone, experiencing FOMO, or disconnected from the people around you, this article is for you. We’ll offer six strategies to help you build better boundaries with your phone.
Couples Therapy Isn't Always About Staying Together
Couples therapy is often seen as a last-ditch effort to salvage a relationship. But the goal of couples therapy isn't always keeping couples together. A good therapist is committed to ensuring that both parties find the path that's best for them. In some cases, therapy might lead to a couple making the difficult decision to part ways. And that's okay! Let's explore how therapy can help couples separate with integrity.
Why You Can't Find Words to Talk About Your Trauma
Trauma is a heavy burden to bear. Sometimes, it can feel impossible to find the words to talk about it. Whether you're seeking therapy or trying to open up to a friend, verbalizing your trauma can be a challenge. There's science behind this difficulty, and strategies to help you unburden yourself by sharing with a trusted person.
Rethinking Outdated Marriage Advice: Beyond "Happy Wife, Happy Life"
When it comes to relationship advice, one old adage that keeps echoing is "Happy wife, happy life." It's a well-meant sentiment, but it's time to rethink this age-old saying. The notion of permanent happiness and self-sacrifice can be problematic. This is true in any relationship, regardless of gender. It's time move from this simplistic adage into a more empowered approach to marital happiness.
How To Tell Your Therapist Something Isn’t Working In Therapy
What happens when your safe place begins to feel shaky? When your therapist doesn't seem to get it, or the therapy isn't yielding the results you were hoping for? Many people encounter this in their therapeutic journey. Here’s how to talk about it.
What Each Enneagram Type Can Gain in Therapy
In the world of the Enneagram, there are no "bad" types. Each Enneagram type has a unique set of strengths, weaknesses, and tendencies. They are all equally valuable. What distinguishes individuals is the level of health at which they express their type. Therapy can help you become the best version of your type. It can help you transcend the limitations of your Enneagram type.
Therapeutic Book Review: Set Boundaries, Find Peace by Nedra Tawwab
Nedra Tawwab's "Set Boundaries, Find Peace" is a fabulous book. It has an overall tone of empowerment and permission to honor your own needs. She uses real-life examples from her therapy patients to explore how setting boundaries improved their lives. It's filled with truth bombs and how-tos for handling challenges in relationships. While Tawwab navigates the landscape of boundaries with confidence, a few topics are left unexplored. Here is our honest review, including sections we wish she'd included.
"Bed Rotting" For Self Care: A Therapist Weighs The Pros And Cons
Bed Rotting is a term used to describe spending a lot of time lying in bed or on the couch without doing much else. It's a way of taking a break and relaxing, but if it's done too much or for the wrong reasons, it can make you feel worse.
8 Words Therapists Want You to Stop Using Wrong: What to Say Instead
Words are powerful tools for understanding and communicating. When used incorrectly, they can perpetuate misconceptions, stigmas, and confusion. Here are eight words that therapists wish you'd stop using incorrectly and alternative phrases that promote a more accurate and compassionate dialogue.
Is EMDR Right for Everyone?
EMDR therapy is a highly effective approach for treating trauma. But it's not right for everyone. If you're considering EMDR as a part of your healing journey, you should assess whether it's the right fit for you.
Podcast: The Importance Of LGBT-Affirmative Couples Therapy
Our clinical director is featured on the CalPsychiatry MindStories podcast talking about the importance of LGBT Affirmative couples therapy. Listen in as she talks about what’s different - and what’s the same - compared to straight couples therapy.
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Our Holistic Therapy Services In California & Florida
We offer individualized teletherapy for a wide range of mental health and relational issues. Our San Francisco & Los Angeles therapists can help with anxiety, trauma therapy, EMDR therapy, LGBT gay and lesbian therapy issues, holistic therapy, enneagram therapy, therapy for lawyers, couples therapy, therapy for burnout, and therapy for teenagers. We serve many people in San Francisco, Santa Cruz, and Los Angeles, as well as throughout California and Florida. Our team is anti-racist, body positive, LGBT and trans affirming and sex positive. You deserve to feel good!